Bille was artist in residence at QPAC from aims of Schools of Arts and Mechanics’ March to September 2005 and, during this Institutes with their support of the arts time, was able to research and develop as a civilising infl uence on working the script for his play. QPAC’s Residency men and women. And companies led by Program, which began in 2003 to establish enthusiasts such as John Bell and Bryan dynamic, collaborative processes between Nason helped to reinvent the traditions of artists, companies and touring theatre for today’s audiences. FREE EXHIBITION QPAC, is an ongoing commitment by In 1969 The College Players, founded by QPAC PRESENTS this organization. The program provides Bryan Nason, toured their production of artists with access to QPAC expertise and The Merchant of Venice interstate and, the facilities, and develops skills which help with the assistance of Queensland Rail, to create a strong and vibrant performing of North Queensland. Film maker, and train ol arts industry. o ar enthusiast, Brian Witte travelled with the ch t SHAKESPEARE ON WHEELS Company. The documentary Shakespeare s s on Wheels, offering a unique glimpse into As the population of Australia was the life of a modern travelling player, was relatively small and widely spread, M  Y the result. companies needed to keep on the move to reach the maximum audience. From This tour, and the documentary that BILLE BROWN Shopping Town. His fi rst professional fortune in the UK. At fi rst, writing performance. Bille continued to study, prospects looked more promising than the 1920s, the spread of fi lm and, later, recorded it, helped inspire Bille Brown’s William Gerard Brown was born in Biloela write and perform. In 1970 he was a acting until Bille received an unexpected television threatened the viability of play The School of Arts with its homage in 1952, to parents Bill and Maureen founding member of student theatre offer to play Sir Peter Teazle in a musical such companies. But an audience for to the theatrical troupes who braved the Brown. He attended the Biloela State group UNI QUE, and in 1971 was invited version of The School for Scandal in live performance was still out there. challenges of the road – and rail. High School, and pursued his interests to audition for the Queensland Theatre Dublin. Australia’s Arts Councils continued the in music, art and rugby. Bill headed Company. to in 1969 to study at the On returning to London in late 1976, Bille University of Queensland planning to In 1975 Bille was part of the QTC auditioned for the Royal Shakespeare become a teacher. company performing The Taming of the Company and was offered a contract. Shrew. The production starred Diane Leonie Amiel and Hilary Furlong. By the end of the year, Bill, or Bille as he The Merchant of Venice, Cilento, and she became a supportive became, had auditioned, and been cast, The College Players 1969 friend when he decided to seek his Grin and Tonic Theatre Troupe Archive as the lead in Aladdin at the Toombul

The School of Arts: Making the Play Exhibition Tony Gould Gallery, QPAC South Bank 19 May – 12 September 2009 Tuesday – Saturday 10am to 4pm L to R: Robby Nason, , Robert Arthur, Bryan Nason Bille Brown as Malvolio, , QTC 1992 The College Players, Bille Brown Collection, QPAC Museum Shakespeare on Wheels, 1969 Further information Courtesy Brian Witte Bille and mother, UQ graduation, 1973 can be obtained from: Bille Brown Collection, QPAC Museum The College Players, Collections Manager Shakespeare on Wheels, 1969 QPAC Museum Courtesy Brian Witte PO Box 3567, South Brisbane, Qld, 4101 T: (07) 3840 7362 F: (07) 3840 7560 E: [email protected] W: www.qpac.com.au Over the next fi ve years, in London and in Bille also returned to Brisbane to play When Belvoir Street’s production of THE SCHOOL OF ARTS country the laws differed from state to THE SCHOOL OF ARTS Stratford-on-Avon, Bille worked his way leading roles for the Queensland Theatre The Judas Kiss with Bille playing Oscar MOVEMENT state. Also, from the time of Federation by Bille Brown up to leading roles. Company, in Much Ado About Nothing, Wilde premiered at the Sydney Festival in persons with more than 50% Aboriginal The Mechanics Institute or School of Arts As the 1967 referendum to include Henry V, The Real Thing, Cheapside and a 1999 his performance was a sensation, ‘blood’ were excluded from offi cial He continued his writing career as well. movement played a signifi cant role in Australia’s Indigenous population in the memorable Falstaff in The Merry Wives of widely acclaimed as it toured the country. population fi gures. His play tuff was produced at the Royal early technical education in Queensland. national census is about to take place, Windsor, directed by Geoffrey Rush. Court, and in 1980 he was commissioned Now Brisbane-based, Bille remains Today the surviving buildings serve as On 27 May 1967 a Federal referendum a touring theatre troupe is preparing to to write a pantomime for the RSC. While in Brisbane in 1987 to play Falstaff, as busy as ever. In 2004 he wrote a a reminder of an earlier generation who was held. The fi rst question was perform Hamlet at the local School of The Swan Down Gloves premiered he received a call from London. It was an new version of Aladdin, starring Ian aimed to sustain social harmony through an attempt to alter the balance of Arts. The School of Arts is an evocation at Stratford in January 1981. Touring offer to play the Wicked Witch of the West McKellen as Widow Twankey for a London education and community activity. Over numbers in the Senate and the House of of small-town country life and the opportunities took Bille to Europe and in the RSC’s The Wizard of Oz. Bille was production, toured to Edinburgh with the time their original philosophy of providing Representatives. The second question unintentional chaos caused by this motley America, where he established a base nominated for an Olivier award for Best 2006 Brisbane Festival cabaret Feasting formal education was replaced by a move was to determine whether two references band of travelling players. for much of the 1980s. Actor in a Musical for the role. on Flesh, was part of the 2007 company, towards popular lectures and activities in the Australian Constitution, which Bille Brown’s new play The School of Arts, again with Geoffrey Rush, in Exit the with a more recreational focus, as well discriminated against Aboriginal people, A rich variety of work followed. In 1986, During the 1990s Bille managed to fulfi l set on the eve of the 1967 referendum, King, and played King Arthur in the recent as providing a venue for local and touring should be removed. On the day over 90 under the name Sullivan Brown – there a long held desire to spend more time in is a tribute to an extraordinary time in Monty Python musical extravaganza performers per cent of all Australian voters and a was already a Bille Brown in Equity – Australia. Despite success in London and Queensland’s cultural life that inspired Spamalot. large majority in every State voted “yes”. he played on Broadway in a successful New York, Bille was relatively unknown THE 1967 REFERENDUM many of our State’s leading artists, It was without doubt a vote for change. season of Wild Honey starring Ian ‘down south’. But that was changing. Bille The School of Arts brings Bille back full including the playwright himself. This The 1901 Constitution stopped the McKellen. was becoming more widely recognised circle. It allows him to recall the traditions For more information go to the Fryer important new work will be presented by federal government from making laws at home. and experiences of his childhood in Library on line exhibition the Queensland Theatre Company and for Indigenous Australians living in the rural Queensland, and to pay homage QPAC in July this year as part of the State’s various States, so the control of Aboriginal http://www.library.uq.edu.au/fryer/1967_ to the spirit of the country towns, and Q150 celebrations. and Torres Strait Islander affairs remained referendum/index.html the performers who made the journey to the States’ responsibility. Across the entertain them.

Bryan nason and Bille Brown, Henry V, QTC 1984 Bille Brown Collection, QPAC Museum Bille Brown as King Arthur, Spamalot, 2008 Bille Brown Collection, QPAC Museum

School of Arts , Ayr Burdekin Library

May Day parade, 1966 Fryer Library, UQ, Graham Garner Collection

Herbert McClintock drawing, Bille Brown (far right), Coriolanus, RSC 1977 Common Cause, 20 May 1967 Bille Brown Collection, QPAC Museum Fryer Library Collection, UQ